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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- On my quest to decide on my next track car, I'm determined to drive as many sub-$40K rear wheel drive cars as I can. Let's see if this slightly imperfect E46 M3 convinces me this platform should (or shouldn't) be my next move.
E46 M3 mod list:
- Beisan VANOS kit
- Beisan anti rattle oil disk
- BE rod bearings
- ARP rod bolts
- Euro catless headers
- Buildjournal tune (disabled)
- Bimmerworld upgraded oil cooler
- Revshift polyurethane motor mounts
- Revshift polyurethane transmission mounts
- Power flex RTABS
- Power flex subframe bushing kit
- Power flex front sway bar bushing
- Power flex diff bushing
- No rear subframe reinforcement yet
- Poly everything
- JRZ RS coilovers, set to near full soft
- Catted x-pipe with stock cats and muffler
- Apex SM-10 wheels
See how I rank the cars I've reviewed in my Zygrene Performance Index (ZPI): bit.ly/3Vo0Idd
Follow me on IG: / zygrene
Email me if you'd like me to review your car: zygrene@gmail.com
![2005 BMW M3 E46 Manual Review [Zack Klapman]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gT8RFKNWYAA/mqdefault.jpg)
Im so freaking disappointed that this car is far from what the e46 could be. You've driven two half-baked examples. I have a Comp package, slicktop, manual car with clutch pedal stop, shorter shifter, Recaro SPG XL, 4.10 diff and a carbon fiber driveshaft lowered on simple H & R springs with Koni yellows and it's....sublime. Fenton. Reach out. I'm in East Bay.
Oh and the trunk is gutted, sat nave removed, eom sub removed, and rear shock tower bracing. 3100 lbs
CSL Airbox?
You had me at 4.10 diff. Shoot me a quick email at zygrene@gmail.com
@@waveslicer no, stock airbox. That's the final boss. But I'm loving the low end torque. don;t want to lose that with better breathing. 4.10 gave more oomph than a csl airbox could, but both together would be golden.
I’d love to hop in a ride with that diff too 😂
Proof that even expensive coilovers suck if you don't know how to dial them in correctly
I had an E46 although not an M3. The steering weight and self centering are affected by aftermarket wheels with less offset, as your test car appeared to have. With stock offset, the steering is heavy with a strong on-center feel. You can partially compensate for the offset with more negative camber.
Can't believe this is a 25 year old design. In the 90's, "25 years ago" would have landed you square in the 1970s!!!
This. This is why e46 is queen beemw
i'm far more interested in Z4 coupes than e46. Unfortunately, they seem to be unicorns, with fewer than 2k total Z4m & Z4 3.0si (n52) models coming to NA.
The Z4 coupes are a big upgrade over the E46 in every way, except rear seats and interior storage.
All these comments talkng about how the e46 is over rate compared to a z4m coupe or e92 m3 but you guys are missing the most important thing about the e46's importance and that is how it looks. Too me that is why the e46 is so so special
Completely agree with you. These need a lot of money to be made right. Not sure doing it makes much sense when you can get something else
It has all the needed creature comforts 8:33
c6?
Good, fun build would be an n55 135i with the right mods.
My brother had one of those, he did coil overs, sway bars, some performance engine stuff, etc. was a great driving car, but needed waaaay too much work to keep it on the road. Every 6 months or so it was time for a visit to the shop and a $2k-3k bill for stuff like the high pressure fuel pump, HVAC blower motor (3 times! Needs dash removal to R&R). I dunno, I loved driving that car, but don’t think I’d own one.
Looks like eBay chipmunk cheek csl replica front bumper
I will subscribe a second time if you get an E46 haha
Robert Mitchell is probably building the cleanest street/track E46 M3 I've ever seen in case you need any inspiration in the future. When I imagine what the perfect E46 M3 would look like if I build one in the US:
- “Big 3” done by a reputable shop
- CAE Shifter
- Aluminum pedals
- CSL Airbox w/ functional flap
- Gutted rear interior and trunk
- Upgraded headers with Euro cats
- Section 2 X-pipe
- Section 3 Scorza muffler
- BBS E88s or other lightweight 18x9.5 or 18x10 squared wheels
- Slicktop/carbon roof
- Hotchkiss sway bars
- 4.10 diff
- Ohlins Dedicated Track Monotube Coilovers w/ camber and caster plates
- Upgraded aluminum coolant expansion tank
- Slon Workshop carbon front triangulating reinforcement kit
- AP Racing Competition BBK w/ Ferodo brake pads
- HTE Performance or Paul Claude dyno tune
- Carbon fiber door cards
- Gutted floor carpet
- Aluminum floor pan kit
- 4-point RACP brace
- StudioRSR roll bar
- HARD Motorsport low-profile brake ducting kit
- Yellow tag or purple tag steering rack
- Electric fan conversion
- Underdrive pulleys
- Metal impeller water pump
- ZCP steering wheel
Solid list. Öhlins dedicated tracks aren’t the best. Studio RSR sucks. Solid otherwise.
@@gt1r Agreed. If you're building a Mac strut car, there are better options than Ohlins out there.
Dixis > scorza
@@gt1r Yeah I'd probably go welded cage over any bolt-in if going all out
@@maxymillion7480 JRZ, MCS, Nitrons?
Beyond all the “ain’t no miata tho” comments I gotta show my flowers to you and your videos, always appreciate the analytical nature of how you review my favorite cars, keep doing your thing brotha and much love !
@@gibsonisthename ain't no Miata though
@@Zygrene HE SAID THE THING !!
If you like the e46 m3, then the you'd prob love the Z4M coupe. It's 150 lbs lighter, has a FAR more rigid chassis, a smoother/stronger ZF transmission instead of the Getrag, and has a slightly more reliable laste-generation S54 (BMW made some reliability updates to the late year models).
Mines and Mt.Hamilton 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
THIS IS the car to get before the 997.2/ Just like porsches these E46 have become a cult following
The under $30k price point is always appealing, but then I get into the usual conundrum of what else can I get for that? And you know too well what’s on that list (86/brz, nd Miata, s2k, cayman/boxster).
And I tend to feel that in my nostalgic mind I think I’d be happy with the older cars but realistically I’d prob want the newer cars with their modern body dynamics and steering response.
Yes, and every car you listed there is a purpose built sports cars. At the end of the day, the E46 is a 3 series. If you're doing this type of canyon driving, I'd take any of the cars you listed over this.
The steering feel isnt so bad I don't think, but the rack ratio is god awful stock. The ZCP cars have a faster rack ratio and the "on-center" feel is massively improved. The amount of steering input required to get the car to really change direction was very offputting for me.
I prefer my e92 M3, but the e46 can be great with enough money and time thrown at it.
Its probably time to get a S2000 again and do it properly. Or maybe an S2 Exige and K-swap it.
All right Fenton question for you...out of all of the cars you have driven/reviewed, what are your top 5 hydraulic steering feel?
1. 997 GT3RS 4.0
2. Mclaren 675LT/750s
3. ????
4. ????
5. ????
Elise might be #1
@@rightminddrive Elise is not hydraulic steering. It's manual steering. I'm talking about hydraulic power steering feeling cars
I think 675LT/750S are my new #1 for steering feel. What I realized after driving those cars is that steering feedback can sometimes be noise. Elise/Exige have more feedback, but not necessarily useful feedback. McLarens get the balance just right. Perfectly weighting, ratio, and just the right amount of feedback.
997 GT3/RS is probably #2. Ratio is just a little slow for my liking.
@@Zygrene Thanks for the response. It's pretty sad that in 2024 you can only get hydraulic steering from 2 manufacturers... McLaren and Lotus and that too only with the Emira. Yes Porsche has some good electric power steering but it still doesn't compare
Why have you abandoned the acura nsx, as a track car?
FR FTW
I always appreciate the BMW vids, from a BMW driver myself.
Davis Jennifer Moore Jason Moore Anna
How did you like Joe K's track E46M car at Laguna ~5 years ago?
@@mrgizmo7975 his car was a ton of fun. Tail happy but easy to control.
The feel of BMW manuals is the exact reason I have a dct e92 m3 instead of a 6spd. After coming from, and still having, an 06 STi driving a BMW manual feels awful which really is too bad.
There are aftermarket shifters that drastically improve the feel. But the DCT is great too.
@@Zygrenevery much agreed, I just wish BMW M had a more robust feeling 6spd out of the box.
@@DiscoPuffin22 Their only robust feeling manual isn't even in one of their models...its in the Supra 6MT.
That STi 6 speed is a very good transmission.
U ever had mk4 supra on the ch yet .......
@@RandyLe-cb2eb a few, but it's been years
I think you should pick up an E9X M3 instead. You've driven and reviewed so many it's time to own one!
Love the E46 M3, amazing feelings you get driving one. Daily drive mine for almost 5 years now and trying to build it for a track car.
That jawbreaker interior trim is 🤮
E92 M3 instead? The E46 is overpriced and you’ve got to do so much to keep it in tip top shape. If your budget is able to stretch a bit more I'd go OG M2 all day
He said daily driver which means he'd have to look at it every day. It ain't no eye candy.
That blue RCF!
How do you compare it to 987 base and 987 S?
987 has more precise handling, but not nearly as fun as the E46
@@ZygreneThat's fair, and e46 comes with LSD + more power
E46 M3s are still an undervalued platform - even with the runup they've had in recent years, IMO.
But you can’t prefer the E46 M3’s look over the E30 M3, surely.
I love the looks of both equally
For around $30,000 id much rather have an S2000.
Overrated
In other words . get yourself a Lexus RCF like you saw at the beginning of the video and forget this stupid BMW's money pit they are .
lawl child comment. Completely different cars. This comment personifies your own ignorance to cars.
fax